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I think that if Calzaghe's next three fights after Manfredo are Kessler, Taylor, Hopkins or Winky then that would make him the greatest Brit after Big Len. He definitely needs to fight Kessler, though. Kessler's more proven that Lacy was, let's not forget that Jeff had trouble with Omar Sheika whereas Kessler has beaten some very good men in Andrade, Mundine, Lucas and Beyer, and has shown more versatility than Lacy did. So it's a fight that needs to happen, in my opinion.Comment
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Thats exactly my concern. If he takes on Kessler, beats him comfortably everyone will say that Kessler was another hype job. Before he gets to make another big fight someone like Carl Froch will have proven themselves by beating another top contender...all of a sudden he has to take care of another pretender to his own throne otherwise he'll not get the credibility he deserves and thus the circle keeps going.
If he takes those fights and wins then retires, I'll put him ahead of Lewis.Comment
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Look, it's pretty damn obvious Calzaghe is ducking Kessler. Let me lay out the facts:
-Calzaghe says he's looking to build his profile with American fans. If that's the case, why isn't he fighting in America to begin with? How exactly are fans suppose to know who you are when you are fighting a few thousand miles away and your fight is going to be shown in the middle of the day? You don't see Hatton trying to build a profile in America by fighting in the UK. He fought lesser known fighters like Urango and Castillo in the US and that has made him somewhat known here. Lennox Lewis fought all of his big fights in the US and that is why he is the most well known UK fighter in this country. Fighting in Wales does nothing for his American fanbase.
-Manfredo has not proven he is popular in America. The only place he has ever sold out is his hometown of Providence and that fight was against another hometown fighter in Spina. Manfredo has never proven he could sell out Vegas, Atlantic City, or any major venue.
-Calzaghe says he wouldn't get credit for beating an untested Kessler because he feels he didn't get much credit for beating Lacy. The truth is Calzaghe got a lot of credit for beating Lacy. Lacy was very hyped coming into that fight and just about everyone thought he would knock out Calzaghe. If he got credit for Lacy, he would get credit for fighting another dangerous fighter in Kessler.
-Also, Lacy was very popular in the US but that fight did absolutely nothing for Calzaghe's American fanbase? Why? Because he fought him in the UK. Again, how are you going to build a fanbase in America when you are fighting thousands of miles away?
-If Calzaghe "supposedly" didn't get credit for beating an undefeated, hyped champion like Lacy and he wouldn't get credit for beating Kessler, who is also undefeated, getting HBO hype, and has two belts, how in the world does he expect to get any credit for beating Manfredo who is a blown up middleweight, has beaten zero credible fighters at super middleweight, and is best known for fighting 5 rounders?
-Calzaghe says Kessler is unknown to US fans, but I would say their popularity here is about equal. Casual fans know them both if they watch HBO regularly because that's the only place you'll ever see them. We've seen Kessler KO Beyer and school Andrade. For Calzaghe, lately we've seen the Lacy destruction and that embarassment of a Bika fight. And it didn't help Calzaghe that HBO was saying during the broadcast that Calzaghe looked like **** that fight.
Calzaghe is just making excuse after excuse not to fight Kessler, but in the end it's clear his argument has no real legitimacy.
I'll say it right now, Calzaghe will NEVER fight Taylor, Winky, or Hopkins. When Calzaghe sees that he's offered peanuts to come to America because he's an unproven draw, he won't want to fight here. He'll demand the fight be in Wales and the American fighters won't go there either. Besides, Taylor is too raw and DiBella won't put him in with a skilled fighter who is as big as Taylor. Winky has been fighting around the world his entire career and he's sick of it. He has made a name for himself and he won't fight outside the US any longer. Also, Winky is just hard to negotiate with. We all saw him decline a Taylor fight because he wanted 50-50 and was only get 45-55. Hopkins sure as hell would not give Calzaghe the advantage of fighting in the UK.
In a year's time, everyone will see what a joke Calzaghe reallly is...Comment
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I think that neither man is really too enthusiastic about fighting each other, given the financial security they have attained fighting zombies. A fight with them would be speed chess, as opposed to all out war. It should be exciting anyways.Comment
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Kessler probably will beat Calzaghe if it happens, that's why it makes no sense to take a fight against a guy American's don't give a **** about when he can out-work Hopkins instead and call it a day with more money.
Come on.Comment
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Damn,pretty even poll...Im not sure if Joe is ducking Kessler.I tend to doubt it though.Joe's a fighter,and I don't think he's physically afraid of Mikkel.Maybe his team is,but not him.If Joe sticks around long enough,and the hype keeps building for Mikkel,I think Joe will eventually fight him.Comment
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